Buying spare parts for your car can be overwhelming, and that's because your options are limitless. You can buy OEM, remanufactured, or used car parts for your vehicle. If it's an older model, you might even want to buy NOS or NORS parts instead. What do all these terms and acronyms mean?
Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) parts are designed according to auto manufacturer's specifications, so they're the most reliable and most expensive option. Remanufactured parts are genuine with some components replaced, while used parts are cheaper but with a shorter lifespan. New Old Stock (NOS) and New Old Replacement Stock (NORS) are parts made long ago for now-discontinued cars.
Navigating the differences between these classifications can be tricky without the right help. Don’t worry because this guide will explain everything you need to know.
Let’s get started.
What Are OEM Car Parts?
Let’s begin by exploring the most common term you’ll see or hear regarding car parts: OEM car parts.
The term OEM stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer, referring to the companies producing the car part for the automaker, based on their design and specifications.
That means OEM car parts are specifically made for a particular car brand and model, complying with the strict requirements of the automaker.
Since OEM car parts fit many of the same descriptions as original car parts, many people wonder whether OEM is the same as genuine or original auto parts.
Are they one and the same?
As to quality and compatibility to the vehicle they’re designed for, they are essentially the same. They have the same quality, build, material, and reliability. The only difference is that original car parts carry the car maker's logo and branding, which also means that original parts are slightly costlier than OEM parts.
The bottom line is that you’ll get more value for your money by purchasing OEM parts. However, some people get more peace of mind by paying extra for original parts that carry the car maker’s branding.
Which one is better? That depends on your preferences. Both OEM and original parts will serve you well.
Remanufactured Vs Used Auto Parts; What Are the Differences?
Now that we’ve explained and differentiated between OEM and original car parts, let’s talk about two other categories – remanufactured and used auto parts.
Used car spares are parts previously used in another vehicle, extracted, cleaned, tested, and put on sale for a lower price.
These parts are not as good as new but still offer great value for a shorter lifespan. When you buy them from a reputable dealer or wrecker, you can rest assured that they’ve been thoroughly tested, cleaned, and repaired (if necessary).
Most used auto parts sellers offer a warranty to give you added peace of mind.
Maybe you’ve also heard about remanufactured parts – they’re similar to used auto parts but not quite.
A remanufactured part is much closer to a brand-new one. It’s a secondhand auto part that has been taken apart and rebuilt. Before it is put together, all worn-out parts are replaced with brand-new ones.
As a result, you’ll likely find that a remanufactured part costs more than a used one.
What Are NOS and NORS Spare Parts?
You'll commonly encounter OEM, original, used, and remanufactured parts when shopping for spare parts. You may also come across two not-so-common terms - New Old Stock (NOS) and New Old Replacement Stock (NORS).
These two terms are more common when buying parts for older vehicles. Here’s what they mean:
- New Old Stock (NOS): These are parts that were once made for cars that are now old. The manufacturer stopped making them long ago, but they're still technically 'new' because they've never been used. NOS parts exist because auto dealers back then were required to maintain several years' worth of stock to service those cars, even when the cars themselves were discontinued.
- New Old Replacement Stock (NORS): NORS parts are like NOS parts, with one key difference – they weren’t made by the original equipment manufacturer. Instead, they were produced by a third-party manufacturer. You can think of them as old aftermarket car parts that were never used.
The differences between NOS and NORS parts might be confusing to the everyday car enthusiast. However, collectors of classic cars and older models take these differences very seriously.
How Do You Buy NOS or NORS Parts?
So, let’s say you’re in the market for some NOS or NORS parts. How do you get your hands on them?
Well, for starters, you can find these parts in many places. Your local parts supplier might have the NOS or NORS part you need, or you can buy it online from platforms like eBay. Thanks to the internet, finding these things is easier than it used to be.
However, your primary concern should be to ensure that you're getting the parts you want and not a modern-day reproduction part. If you're serious about buying the most authentic parts made when the car was still in production, you need to do some homework.
Before you buy any NOS or NORS parts, be sure of a few things:
- Check the reviews: The good thing about online platforms is that previous buyers can leave feedback. You may want to browse different products and see what people say about them. If the seller lists reproductions instead of genuine NOS or NORS parts, people will mention these in the reviews.
- Inspect the photos: When you find a piece you want, look closely at its pictures. You'll want to ensure the piece looks precisely like the part you're searching for, so you don't accidentally buy something else. For that reason, it's best to avoid posts using generic photos instead of those taken by the seller.
- Consider the price: Lastly, consider the price. Simply put, if the price is too good to be true, it probably is. NOS and NORS parts aren’t going to be cheap. If you think you found an irresistible deal, carefully check the photos, descriptions, and reviews.
Overall, you should avoid buying NOS or NORS parts if the seller, whether online or off, can’t provide enough details or has no reviews to support them.
Whether you’re buying OEM, NOS, NORS, remanufactured or used auto parts, CarpartAU is your go-to site to find what you need.
You can browse the Marketplace for deals on used parts or submit a request through the Part Finder. Better yet, you can also use the Directory to find specialist parts sellers to get you the NOS or NORS parts you want.
By Ray Hasbollah